The effect of Medicare Part D on prescription drug composition and demand
Abstract
Purpose
The US Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 introduced optional prescription drug coverage, beginning in 2006, widely known as Medicare Part D. This paper uses up-to-date nationally representative survey data to investigate the impact of Part D not only on drug spending and consumption, but also on the composition of drug consumption. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Specifically, the paper investigates whether Part D impacted the number of therapeutic classes for which drugs were prescribed, and also whether Part D lead to increased usage of drugs for specific medical conditions that typically receive drug-intensive therapies.
Findings
In addition to confirming findings from previous studies, this paper shows that Part D increased the number of therapeutic classes to which seniors receive drugs by approximately four classes. Part D also lead to increased usage of drugs used to treat upper respiratory disease, hypertension, and diabetes.
Originality/value
While mostly concurring with previous studies on the spending impacts of Part D, this paper is the first to shed light on other impacts of Part D, specifically with respect to its impact on therapeutic classes for which drugs are prescribed.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
JEL Classification – I11, I18
Citation
Zimmer, D. (2015), "The effect of Medicare Part D on prescription drug composition and demand", Journal of Economic Studies, Vol. 42 No. 2, pp. 170-185. https://doi.org/10.1108/JES-08-2013-0109
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited